Answer this question truthfully
### Question: What causes Mediastinitis?
### Response: Mediastinitis may occur suddenly (acute) or may develop slowly and get worse over time (chronic). Most cases occur in patients who have had open chest surgery. Less than 5 percent of patients develop mediastinitis after having chest surgery.
Patients may have a tear in their esophagus that causes mediastinitis. Causes of the tear include:
A procedure such as endoscopy
Forceful or constant vomiting
Trauma
Other causes of mediastinitis include:
Cancer
Histoplasmosis
Radiation
Sarcoidosis
Tuberculosis